Background
In the mid-1960s, Porsche was striving to expand its position in the market with a sports car in the promising segment beneath the 911. However, such a project would not have been viable for the small company on its own.
The Zuffenhausen-based car manufacturer found a partner in Volkswagen, since at the time VW was looking for a successor to its then rather outdated Type 34 sports coupe, better known as the Karmann Ghia.
Ferry Porsche and VW Director Heinrich Nordhoff shook hands on a joint project in the mid-1960s. When Nordhoff unexpectedly died in 1968, the project was in danger of collapsing. Ferry Porsche worked out a solution with the new Managing Director of VW, Kurt Lotz and the two companies established the VW-Porsche sales company.
It marketed the project on the European market as the VW-Porsche. It was available in two versions: the 914 with a four-cylinder engine from Volkswagen and the 914/6 with a six-cylinder engine from Porsche. In the USA, both variants were sold under the Porsche marque.
The VW engine was a completely new design and marked the first ever production injection engine offer by the company. The four-cylinder model developed 80PS at 4,900 rpm, meaning it could reach 62mph in 13 seconds and topped out at 110mph. In contrast, the Porsche six-cylinder engine came from the 911 T and was designed for maximum performance with its overhead camshafts, triple carburettors and high-performance capacitor ignition.
The distinctive two-seater with its characteristic Targa roof was aimed mainly at younger buyers. With an initial basic price of 11,955 Deutschmarks, the Porsche 914 model series was an absolute sales hit. Between 1969 and 1975, 115,631 four-cylinder 914 cars were built.
Most were exported to the USA, with the 914 being voted ‘Import Car of the Year’ in 1970. By contrast, the 914/6 was a rarer beast with just 3,338 units being produced between 1969 and 1972. All are a rare sight on British roads.
